UK court quashes warrants used to search former Prince Andrew’s homes
publishers 36articles 43first reported 5 Oct, 06:17 UTCdeveloping since 5 Oct · 11 editions
Britain’s High Court has quashed warrants used to search two properties linked to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after Thames Valley Police agreed they had been issued unlawfully.
At a hearing in London on Thursday, Justice Nicholas Hilliard said a “significant error” had been made in the application for and granting of the warrants. They had authorized February searches at Mountbatten-Windsor’s residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk and his former home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor.
The ruling does not end the criminal investigation. Hilliard said quashing the warrants neither brought the inquiry to an end nor rendered the entire investigation unlawful.
Thames Valley Police said the court had issued the warrants under the wrong legislation and stressed that the decision concerned their legal basis rather than the wider inquiry. Separate proceedings are continuing over how seized material should be handled and whether police may lawfully retain and use it.
Mountbatten-Windsor, 66, was arrested on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office over allegations that he shared sensitive information with Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a UK trade envoy. He was interviewed under caution and released under investigation without being charged.
The former prince, who did not attend Thursday’s hearing, has denied wrongdoing. Police said they continue to pursue reasonable lines of inquiry.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 7 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 78 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 36
- Source articles
- 43
- Given to the writer
- 8, 7 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 78 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
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